District of Columbia Probate Form

Pro Se Motion And Order

Everything you need to know about District of Columbia Form Pro Se Motion And Order, including helpful tips, fast facts & deadlines, how to fill it out, where to submit it and other related DC probate forms.

(233 ratings)
Hand holding a pen filling out the form
Purple Circle Background

About Pro Se Motion And Order

There are all sorts of forms executors, beneficiaries, and probate court clerks have to fill out and correspond with during probate and estate settlement, including affidavits, letters, petitions, summons, orders, and notices.

Pro Se Motion And Order is a commonly used form within District of Columbia. Here’s an overview of what the form is and means, including a breakdown of the situations when (or why) you may need to use it:

Atticus Fast Facts About Pro Se Motion And Order

Sometimes it’s tough to find a quick summary— here’s the important details you should know about Pro Se Motion And Order:

  • This form pertains to the State of District of Columbia

  • The official District of Columbia source for this form is here.

Government forms are not typically updated often, though when they are, it often happens rather quietly. While Atticus works hard to keep this information about District of Columbia’s Form Pro Se Motion And Order up to date, certain details can change from time-to-time with little or no communication.

How to file Form Pro Se Motion And Order

Step 1 - Download the correct District of Columbia form based on the name and ID if applicable

Double check that you have both the correct form name and the correct form ID. Some District of Columbia probate forms can look remarkably similar, so it’s best to double, even triple-check that you’re using the right one! Keep in mind that not all States have a standardized Form ID system for their probate forms.

Step 2 - Complete the Document

Fill out all relevant fields in Form Pro Se Motion And Order, take a break, and then review. Probate and estate settlement processes in DC are long enough to begin with, and making a silly error can push your timeline even farther back. No thank you!

Note: If you don’t currently know all of the answers and are accessing Form Pro Se Motion And Order online, be sure to avoid closing the browser tab and potentially losing all your progress (or use a platform like Atticus to help avoid making mistakes).

Step 3 - Have Form witnessed or notarized (if required)

Some States and situations require particular forms to be notarized. If you have been instructed to get the document notarized or see it in writing on the document, then make sure to hire a local notary. There are max notary fees in the United States that are defined and set by local law. Take a look at our full guide to notary fees to make sure you aren’t overpaying or getting ripped off.

Step 4 - Submit Pro Se Motion And Order to the relevant office

This is most often the local probate court where the decedent (person who passed away) is domiciled (permanently resides) or the institution involved with this particular form (e.g. a bank). Some offices allow you to submit forms online, other’s don’t, and we while we generally recommend going in-person to expedite the process, sometimes that simply isn’t an option.

It’s also a generally good idea to establish a positive working relationship with any probate clerk (unfortunately there’s enough people & process out there making things more difficult and unnecessarily confusing for them), so a best practice is to simply ask the probate clerk proactively exactly how and where they’d prefer you to submit all forms.

Need help getting in touch with a local probate court or identifying a domicile probate jurisdiction?

👉 Find and Contact your Local Probate Court

👉 What is a Domicile Jurisdiction?

Atticus DIY Probate & Estate Settlement App Image

Sponsored by Atticus App

Need help with District of Columbia Probate?

Join all the other families who have trusted Atticus through probate, and experience the peace that comes from knowing you're taking the right steps, spending the least amount of money, and not wasting a single second.

Start for free

When Pro Se Motion And Order is due

Different probate forms or processes can require different deadlines or response times for completing the appropriate form.

While some steps in the process are bound to specific deadlines (like petitioning for probate, having to submit an inventory of assets, or filing applicable notices to creditors and beneficiaries), many probate forms or processes are not tied to a specific deadline since the scope of work can vary based on situational factors or requirements involved.

Either way, there are a bunch of practical reasons why personal representatives should work to complete each step as thoroughly and quickly as possible when completing probate in District of Columbia.

5 reasons you should submit this form as quickly as possible:

  1. The sooner you begin, the faster District of Columbia can allow heirs and beneficiaries to get their share of assets subject to probate. Acting promptly can also decrease the costs & overall mental fatigue through an otherwise burdensome process.

    Helpful Context: What’s the Difference Between Probate and Non-Probate Assets?

  2. In general, creditors of an estate usually have around 3-6 months from the time you file notice to creditors to file any claims for debt against the deceased’s assets. If they don’t, then that debt is forfeited (and more importantly, the executor won’t be held personally responsible). So doing this sooner means you have a better idea of who is owed what and ensures you won’t get a surprise collector months later.

  3. Not filing a will within 30 days (on average) could mean that the probate process proceeds according to intestate laws (laws that govern what happens to someone's stuff without a will) or is subject to unnecessary supervision by the probate court. And if you aren't directly related to the deceased (a.k.a. next of kin), this could also mean you lose your inheritance.

  4. It’s important to file any necessary state tax returns on behalf of the deceased or estate by the following tax season in District of Columbia. If you don’t, you could owe penalties and interest. This also includes any necessary federal tax returns such as Forms 1040, 1041, or even a Form 706 estate tax return.

  5. If a house in the State of District of Columbia is left empty (or abandoned) for a while, insurance can get dicey. For example, if the house burns down and no one has been there for a year, an insurance company may get out of paying your claim.

If you’re not using Atticus to get specific forms, deadlines, and timelines for District of Columbia probate, then try and stay as organized as possible, pay close attention to the dates mentioned in any correspondence you have with the State’s government officials, call the local District of Columbia probate clerk or court for exact answers regarding Form Pro Se Motion And Order, and when in doubt— consult a qualified trust & estates lawyer for that area.

How to Download, Open, and Edit this form Online

Pro Se Motion And Order is one of the many probate court forms available for download through Atticus.

It may also be available through some District of Columbia probate court sites, such as . In order to access the latest version, be updated with any revisions, and get full instructions on how to complete each form, check out the Atticus Probate & Estate Settlement software or consider hiring a qualified legal expert locally within District of Columbia.

While Atticus automatically provides the latest forms, be sure to choose the correct version of Form Pro Se Motion And Order f using any other site or resource in order to avoid having to re-complete the form process and/or make another trip to the District of Columbia probate court office.

Pro Se Motion And Order is a .pdf, so opening it should be as simple as clicking “View Form” from within the Atticus app or by clicking the appropriate link found on any District of Columbia-provided government platform. Once you’ve opened the form, you should be able to directly edit the form before saving or printing.

Purple Lightbulb Icon

Did you know?

  • Form Pro Se Motion And Order is a probate form in District of Columbia.

  • District of Columbia has multiple types of probate and the necessary forms depend on the unique aspects of each estate, such as type and value of assets, whether there was a valid will, who is serving as the personal representative or executor, and even whether or not they also live in District of Columbia.

  • During probate, all personal representatives and executives in are required to submit a detailed inventory of assets that must separate non-probate assets from probate assets.

  • Probate in District of Columbia, especially without guidance, can take years to finish and cost upwards of $14,000.

Frequently Asked Questions about Pro Se Motion And Order

Probate is the government’s way of making sure that when a person dies, the right stuff goes to the right people (including the taxes the government wants).

All of that stuff is collectively known as someone’s “estate”, and it’s the job of the executor or personal representative to fill out all the forms and complete all the required steps to formally dissolve the estate. 

To get instant clarity on the entire probate process and get an idea of the steps, timeline, and best practices, read the Atticus Beginner’s Guide to Probate

The best place? Create an account in Atticus to start getting estate-specific advice. 

You may need a lawyer, you may not, and paying for one when you didn’t need it really hurts. Atticus makes sure you make  the best decisions (plus you can write it off as an executor expense).

We’ve also created a list of other probate services. Be sure to check it out!

An executor is named in someone’s will, and if the deceased didn’t have a will, then the spouse or other close family relative usually steps up to fulfill the role. If no one wants to do it, then a judge will appoint someone. 

The executor is responsible for the complete management of the probate process, including major responsibilities such as:

  • Creating an inventory of all probate assets.

  • Filling out all necessary forms

  • Paying off all estate debts and taxes

  • Submitting reports to the court and beneficiaries as requested

And much more. This process often stretches longer than a year. 

For an idea of what separates executors who succeed from those who make this way harder than it should be, visit our article, Executors of an Estate:
What they do & secrets to succeeding
.

The Exact Text on Form Pro Se Motion And Order

Here’s the text, verbatim, that is found on District of Columbia Form Pro Se Motion And Order. You can use this to get an idea of the context of the form and what type of information is needed.

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION _________ ADM _________ _________ INT _________ _________ IDD _________ _________ GDN _________ _________ TRP _________ _________ CON _________ _________ SEB _________ Estate of ___________________________________________________ Deceased/Minor/Ward PRO SE MOTION FOR _____________________________________________________________ The undersigned interested person hereby asks the Court to grant the following motion: 1. Name of interested person: __________________________________________________ 2. Nature of the interested person’s legal interest (for example, heir, legatee, conservator, guardian, creditor): ________________________________________________________ 3. Reason for motion: ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ 4. Relief requested. (What do you want the Court to do?): ___________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ October 2009 WHEREFORE movant asks that this motion be granted. ___________ _________________________ Signature ___________ _________________________ ___________ _________________________ Address ____________________________________ Telephone number The $20.00 filing fee is enclosed made payable to “Register of Wills” CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I hereby certify that on the ____ day of ____________________, 20____, I have mailed copies of the foregoing motion, postage prepaid, by first class mail, to the following interested persons: (list name and address of all interested persons) _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ ______________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ ___________ _________________________ Signature October 2009 SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION _________ ADM _________ _________ INT _________ _________ IDD _________ _________ GDN _________ _________ TRP _________ _________ CON _________ _________ SEB _________ Estate of ___________________________________________________ Deceased/Minor/Ward ORDER Upon consideration of the pro se motion for ___________________________________________ filed herein by ______________________________________, and any response thereto, it is hereby, by the Court, this ________day of _________________, 20_____, ORDERED 1. That the motion be Granted Denied 2. That ____________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ___________ _________________________ JUDGE Cc: (list names and addresses of all interested persons, including yourself) October 2009

Get Your Probate Forms

Need help finding the rest of your District of Columbia Probate forms?

Atticus has probate and estate settlement forms for your State.

Comments